One of Liverpool’s biggest names may have hogged the headlines against Spurs but it’s their quietly impressive midfielder that got Souness talking.
Graeme Souness has praised the performance of Liverpool youngster Kevin Stewart in their 2-1 EFL Cup win against Tottenham Hotspur on Sky Sports on Tuesday night.
Daniel Sturridge (below) took advantage of a rare start to net twice at Anfield, rendering Vincent Janssen’s late penalty nothing more than a consolation as Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals of a competition that they were within a penalty shootout of winning last season.
Alongside fellow youngsters Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ovie Ejaria, Stewart played from the start against Mauricio Pochettino’s side, impressing with his composure and reliable distribution in the centre of the park.
And Souness, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the Liverpool engine room after winning five league titles in just seven seasons on Merseyside, has lauded the mature performance of the 23-year-old.
“I like Kevin Stewart in midfield,” Souness said during Sky Sports’ EFL Cup coverage, broadcast at 7pm on Tuesday.
“[He] keeps it simple, spreads the ball well. I think I can only remember him losing the ball once.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been praised for his determination to give the club’s next generation the platform upon which to hone their talent, with Tottenham academy graduate Stewart making all of his 11 Premier League appearances since the affable German was appointed last October.
And, while he may not offer the show-stopping dynamism of Steven Gerrard or the metronomic vision of Xabi Alonso, Stewart’s composure in possession has convinced the former Dortmund coach that he can be relied upon when required.
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